Immigration, work and health in Spain: the influence of legal status and employment contract on reported health indicators

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of legal status and employment conditions with health indicators in foreign-born and Spanish-born workers in Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 1,849 foreign-born and 509 Spanish-born workers (2008-2009, ITSAL Project). Considered employment conditions: permanent, temporary and no contract (foreign-born and Spanish-born); considered legal statuses: documented and undocumented (foreign-born). Joint relationships with self-rated health (SRH) and mental health (MH) were analyzed via logistical regression. RESULTS: When compared with male permanently contracted Spanish-born workers, worse health is seen in undocumented foreign-born, time in Spain ≤3 …